VERDUN FIGHTING.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1916, Page 5

VERDUN FIGHTING.

OF THE FIERCEST KIND. GERMANS' STUBBORN RESISTANCE. Received August 5, 5.5 p.m. Paris, August 5. The Verdun fighting was of the fiercest character. The artillery on both Sides was so packed that mass movements were impossible. General Nivelle. adopted infiltration methods of advance by small parties, enabling a general ajvance on Fleury. A communique states that the lighting at Thiaumont was daylong. All the attacks north-west and southward of Thiaumont t< dislodge us failed. We resumed the oll'ensive. inflicting the severest losses on the enemy. We carried the Thiaumont work a second time in twelve hours, and retain possession, despite many counter-attacks. The fighting was of equal fury at Fleury, which we evacuated after many attacks. We, however, retook the greater part of the village with the bayonet in the afternoon, capturing four hundred prisoners. The Germans continue their stubborn resistance. We dropped bombs on the railway stations at St. Enay, Montmedy, and Segan, also bivouacs at Dannevillers. AIR RAIDS IN BELGIUM. GREAT DAMAGE CAUSED. REMOVAL OF AMMUNITION DEPOTS. i'g Received August 0; 5.5 p.m. "" ' Amsterdam, August 5. Bombs dropped by air-raiders on Ghent totally destroyed an airshed where 150 persons were employed, also a munition factory in the suburb of Ledderburg. Great damage was caused at the railway station of the biggest junction in Belgium. "* An eye-witness states that fourteen aeroplanes bombed Zeebrugge. He counted twenty-five explosions and two big fires. The Germans were unable to reply owing to the height of the aeroplanes. The Germans are evacuating all their ammunition depots at Ghent, and removing them to Antwerp, THE BATTLE NORTH OF THE SOMME. A GERMAN ACCOUNT. Received August G, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, August 5. A communique states: The battle north of the Somme, reported yesterday, took place on.an extended front against strong English forces, part of the fighting being continued till nightfall. The English,, who were advancing on Ovillers and Foureaux, were repulsed with heavy fosses after a stubborn hand-to-hand light. New battles developed to-day near Pozieres, and bitter fighting also developed in the* region of Thiaumont wood. , - , ( GERMAN TYRANNY AND BELGIAN PLUCK. THE HUNS DEFIED. Received August 5, 5.5 p.m. The Hague, August 4. The director of the Belgian National Bank at Antwerp has been deported. He refused to hand over -400,000,000 francs to the Germans in exchange for ,'i paper receipt. A. Times' message says that Brussels has refused to pay the fine for celebrating fete day. A crisis is expected. OFFENSIVE AT OVILLERS. GERMAN VERSION. Received August C, 11.15 p.m. Amsterdam, August fi. A German communique states: Strong British forces attacked on a wide front ou Friday, and after fighting all day they penetrated the sector north of Ovillois to Foureaux wood, but were driven out with heavy losses at some places, after stubborn fighting. GERMAN ATTACKS AT FLEURY - '. 'FRENCH FRONT INTACT. Received August G, 11.40 p.m. Paris, August G. A communique itates: We hold all the southern part of the village of Fleury. The Germans, after an all-day bombardment, made two powerful attacks on Vaux and the Chapitre wood. Ono was repulsed, the other penetrating portions of our trenches, but they were immediately driven out. Our front remains intact. FRENCH OFFICIAL REPORT. FIGHTING AT THIAUMONT ANi; 7LEURY. I • Received August 7, 12.50 a.m. London, August 5, 'A French official report says: In the Somme region we bombarded enemy organisations. On the right of the -Mouse combats continued all day. In the region of Thiaumont and Fleury, and northwest of the south Thiaumont work, all attacks to dislodge us from conquered positions failed. Not only did we break enemy ell'orts, inflicting great losses, but a second oll'ensive enabled us to seize, foi the second time in twelve hours, the Thiaumont work, which remains in our power, notwithstanding several counterattacks. The struggle was continued -with great bitterness in the village of Fleury. After having evacuated all the village this morning, after several German attacks, our infantry this afternoon carried, at the point of the bayonet, the greater part of the village, where the enemy .still resists energetically,